Safety ski bar



114253 XR 3,051,118 5R O. D. CALK ET AL Aug. 28, 1962 SAFETY SKI BAR Filed Aug. 18. 1960 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3,051,118 SAFETY SKI BAR Oberlee D. Calk, 1345 Pioneer Drive, and Curtis 0. Priddy, 1234 Willis St., both of Abilene, Tex. Filed Aug. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 50,415 Claims. (Cl. 11S- 6.1)

This invention relates to a safety ski bar, and more particularly to such a device adapted for the use of water skiers.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an py bar for water skiers characterized by means s automatically released irornt pow'siiliiiiiynii'fitahlement 1n t injury to the Water skier.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which, when released, will stay afloat in the immediate vicinity of the water skier, and will serve as an auxiliary or supplemental safety device.

An additional object o-f the invention is the provision of means in lassociation with the ski bar whereby the water skier may release himself from the tow line and keep the ski bar in his possession, thus eliminating the drag on the boat occasioned by the towed ski bar until reeled in with the boat.

A further object of the invention is the provision of us bvia g "he he tow rbpe, with resulting means in association with the ski bar whereby it may be iti...

`employed for storing the ski towi u ,J mSllotheobjtsitsidtlieibomb1na ions o elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the aocompflanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the ski bar of the instant invention in a position of use;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the ski bar of the instant invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged end elevational View of the ski bar;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional Viewv taken substantially along the line 4-'4 of FIG. 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of an auxiliary attachment.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention, generally indicated at 10, is generally triangular in form, and is adapted to be grasped at its base by ya water skier 11 mounted on water skis 12, A tow rope 13V `is releasably connected to the apex of the hereinafter, and extends to a conventional tow boat 14 of any desired type, which may be provided with either an outboard motor 15 as shown, or an inboard motor or any desired conventional propulsive medium.

The ski bar of the instant invention includes a base 16 from which extend a pair of converging legs 17 and 18, which are provided at their apex with offset portions 19 and 20, respectively. The base 16 is adapted to be grasped by the hands H of the water skier 11, and one hand engages a release lever 21, which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 22 adjacent one end of the base 16. As best shown in FIG. 4, lever 21 is arcuate in cross-section to conform with the tubular coniiguration of base 16, and has an inwardly projecting plate 23 positioned on the concave side thereof, the plate extending through a longitudinal slot 24 in the top or inner side of base 16. The end 25 of a liexible cord 25 is knotted through a Suitable opening 26 in the lower end of the plate 23, the cord extending across the full length of the base and up through tubular leg 18 into the offset end portion 20, at which point it is secured by means of a nut 27 to the shank 28 of a hook member generally indicated at 29. The hook is generally L-shaped in configuration and is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 30 which extends across the oifset end portion 19 of leg .17. Hook member 29 also includes a bight portion 31 and a hooked end 32 which engages in a Suitable loop in the end of tow rope 13. The hook extends through complementary confronting slots 34 and 35 in offset portions 19 and 20, respectively.

The arrangement is thus obviously such that as long as the lever or handle 21 is pressed rmly against the base 16 by the grasp of the skiers hand the hooked portion 32 tightly engages tow rope 13. However, release of the hand -grip immediately causes the force of the tow rope to swing hook 32 about its pivot 30, positive release being assured by a coil spring 32a surrounding pivot 30 normally biasing hook 32 to `disengaged position, the handle 21 moving to the dotted line position of FIG. l, whereupon the tow rope is released from the hook, and the ski bar is either retained in possession of the skier, or falls nearby.

The device is preferably made of hollow material, such as tubular aluminum, light plastic, light tubular steel or the like, and is adapted to oat, suitable plugs 40 being positioned in spaced relation in leg 17 to render that portion of the device airtight to serve as a iioat. Sleeves 41 and 42 are positioned on legs 17 and 18, respectively, and are comprised of suitable buoyant material such as cork, or expanded, unicellular foamftypc material sold under the trademark Styrofoam, or the like.

A plug 42 of cork, Wood, plastic, or similar material, is adapted to be inserted in the Open end of offset portion 20, and serves as a closure member to some extent to prevent the free tiow of water. Obviously, the slots 34 and 35 must be open, and the end of leg 18 must also be open to permit passage of the cord 25.

Means are provided for coiling the tow rope 13 about the frame of the ski bar, and comprise nuts 43 which are suitably secured, as by welding, `brazing, or the like adjacent the angles of the triangular member, and are adapted for the reception of the threaded ends 44 of the stems 45 of T members which are provided with cross heads 46. When the three T members are suitably screwed with the nuts 43, the tow rope 13 may be coiled thereabout and the device stored for use.

From the foregoing it will now -be seen that there is herein provided an improved ski bar which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that al1 matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

alever pivotally mounted on the base of the triangle adapted to be grasped and held against the base by the skiers hands and a cord connection extending from said lever to said hook whereby release of said handle permits said hook to swing about its pivot to release said tow rope. i o

2. A ski bar `comprising a tubular member of generally triangular conguration, a hook pivotally mounted at the apex of the triangle adapted to releasably engage a tow rope, a lever pivotally mounted on the base of the triangle adapted to be grasped and held against the base by the skiers hands and a cord connection extending from said lever to said hook whereby release of said handle permits said hook to swing about its pivot to release said tow rope, said cord extending through said tubular member.

3. A ski bar comprising a tubular member of generally triangular configuration, a hook pivotally mounted at the apex of the triangle adapted to releasably engage a tow rope, a lever pivotally mounted on the base of the triangle adapted to be grasped and held against the base by the skiers hands, a cord connection extending from said lever to said hook whereby release of said handle permits said hook to swing about its pivot to release said tow rope, said cord extending through said tubular member, and portions of said tubular member defining an airtight flotation chamber.

4. A ski bar comprising a tubular member of generally triangular conguration, a hook pivotally mounted at the apex of the triangle adapted to releasably engage a tow rope, a lever pivotally mounted on the base of the triangle adapted to be grasped and held against the base by the skiers hands, a cord extension extending from said lever to said hook and secured thereto whereby release of said handle permits said hook to swing about its pivot to release said tow rope, said cord extending through said tubular member, portions of said tubular member delining an airtight flotation chamber and sleeves of buoyant material on said tubular member.

5 A ski bar `comprising a tubular member of generally triangular configuration, a hook pivotally mounted at the apex of the triangle adapted to releasably engage a tow rope, a handle pivotally mounted on the base of the triangle adapted to be grasped and held against the base by the skiers hands, a cord extension extending from said handle to said hook and secured thereto whereby release of said handle permits said hook to swing about its pivot to release said tow rope, said cord extending through said tubular member, portions of said tubular member defining an airtight flotation chamber, sleeves of buoyant material on said tubular member, and means releasably carried by said tubular member for winding a tow rope thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,373,746 Lewis et al Apr. 5, 1921 2,342,868 King Feb. 29, 1944 2,690,152 Riccio Sept. 28, 1954 2,721,088 Ritter Oct. 18, 1955 2,943,591 Schneider July 5, 1960 2,944,507 Beal July 12, 1960 2,998,797 Risney Sept. 5, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,115 Great Britain June 24, 1905 Lkw rs1' 

